Content warning: there is mention of SA and death of a grandparent in this episode.

EJ Crocker grew up loving sounds, making noise, singing, and has been finding her way to music ever since. From childlike wonder through honing a craft and making a living with her music. 

We talk about how being a "professional" can take the joy away from our art, and EJ is navigating that world beautifully and returning to childlike wonder and reckless abandon with her music. She has learned to rely on the people who inspire her and relish the small connections that keep her close to the music and to herself. I hope you enjoy this precious, vulnerable conversation that is graced with birdsong from EJ's rooftop.

EJ is a guitar teacher and teaches private students of all ages out of her home studio and at Ted Brown Music. Give her a listen at ejcrockermusic.com [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsptr.eocampaign1.com%2Ff%2Fa%2FAMabkMG3lrYKfCXMwfJFNQ~~%2FAAAHURA~%2FJmRvgKik6RViIJGfQ3nv6Mu6T8k8xmXpoyWv9cOqJnUWZ4QFVEQBLBiC17_4Lu1ZqlXiLVZOQLKbPtj0ko0HhVNYXLyMWTTUdGuJfi27Hlfi7GK-yklNr8jxhSZcx-V-zGCGiJSAuH49OeTyuydHGSbF8d3xNm88A1G4OUuqkWk~&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cb22e150ad47a4c0ed14208ddace04fdc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638856801596760626%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hMHtJJTCgekNU7nCEMcADkskpVLamZ%2BQFHFrjQ2RRhM%3D&reserved=0]!  Around Tacoma, keep an ear open for her bands Threocracy [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsptr.eocampaign1.com%2Ff%2Fa%2FGYBMt8sdzkomZunFFwYyXQ~~%2FAAAHURA~%2FqDuBtBJ0HtECwxrbKsI0ZGdgqCBiHHHc4BHO_nql6jC0lgLiXIS_v1fKB2hEMolE9Ho7DQCNpgpqaxqAyyZ4cTJvgkEA_B6sRFfbWi1zUvi5Ns_sKQtB0FzGSLqUA7Tg32LjhFHzkD6es7x4CfxlfZXlEGkxmzrq0ouSLMtOYr1gqBhGGWReWfsGgofZ1wv5&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cb22e150ad47a4c0ed14208ddace04fdc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638856801596777264%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=d8KsFZqmeZQAO%2FIbLo3%2FOMmED0Y9gexPK5YIfg%2BHcgw%3D&reserved=0] (a jazz organ trio) and Sweet Marilyn [https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsptr.eocampaign1.com%2Ff%2Fa%2FxQZczahn94aa_TBxBifBzA~~%2FAAAHURA~%2FZwOiGdV0XcfGS11ttUCNLLIy3Txt2Oud0_i_2aKnN4AwJMKYWf-4rIHjbxm98-S2i_k-esobRaF_2TxSiJZ9rlN6IU5g57trPRs3HVWWJ7BzjHoc8fRVpXPlgeJPQm4DybzRpeJvRlW1YbRXFTy8t_5347dgDgI4HIWreOjk77g~&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cb22e150ad47a4c0ed14208ddace04fdc%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638856801596793291%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=vA0qQvCDYWexaUGXDt0N%2F9MKzJayFvQHTke%2BKc7tX2Q%3D&reserved=0] (an indie rock outfit).

References:
Andrea Gibson: "I Sing the Body Electric; Especially When My Power Is Out"

Returning to Reckless Abandon w/ EJ Crocker

In this episode, I'm joined by Brigitte, a systems and self-care witch for neurodivergent creatives, to chat about how structure and process don't have to mean limitations on your creativity and can instead be "enabling constraints" to move you forward into creativity. We chat about Brigitte's path from not seeing herself as an artist to eventually seeing the real picture of becoming and inhabiting the life of an artist instead of wrestling with the picture she had in her head. Sound familiar?

If you're a neurodivergent creative with a million ideas you can't seem to organize, definitely check out Brigitte's coaching offerings! You can find her on her website [https://www.brigittemarieenergydesign.com/]as well as her YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJCxe5yTl4en99GiH5GkM5A].

References:
Yet another shout out to The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
"Enabling constraints" shout out to Christine Garvey with A Mighty Practice [https://www.instagram.com/amightypractice/]
Kyra Sutherland with Joyful Divergent [https://www.instagram.com/joyfuldivergent/]

Containers for Creative Freedom w/ Brigitte

In this episode, I'm joined by Ania Pilch (she/her) to discuss her journey toward a creative life through her platform, Not the Creative Kind. Ania grew up believing she wasn't a creative person; if art doesn't seem to come naturally to us, sometimes it's just easier to not go there, allowing stasis and status quo to run the show. There came a point when Ania realized she wanted to change up her lifestyle, and when she pictured her ideal life, there was always art involved--but why have a music studio if you're not playing music? She decided it was time to explore a what a "creative life" meant to her.

Thus began her quest to engage in a more creative life. She challenged herself to try one new hobby every month, and Not the Creative Kind was born. Check out the community she's building on IG [https://www.instagram.com/not.thecreativekind/]and WhatsApp [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BGxBSutITisK9qdUdZQKLP]!

References:
CreativeMornings Field Trips

Not the Creative Kind w/ Ania Pilch

In this episode, I'm joined by Jade Monroe (she/her), a community builder and musical artist, for a special conversation about how creativity can be an avenue to a higher purpose. Today, we chat about how we can all find courage to act through fear by developing trusting connection with ourselves rather than chasing after the shiny things and flashy attention we're taught to want when thinking about putting our art out into the world. What can we find here on the grittier, messier interpersonal side of community when we focus wholeheartedly on reclaiming our power, standing together in solidarity, and creating art that speaks to our souls?

Jade is a container of multitudes. By day, she develops food waste reduction policies for a sustainable future. By night, Jade hosts a songwriter club, powerlifts with determination, and shares her soul through music with her ultra-talented bandmates. She has been actively involved in helping organize the local chapter of 50501 Protests and encourages us all to stand together and speak out, as is our right, to create the world we want to live in and stand up to authoritarianism. You can see her band, Sweet Marilyn, play at the Frontier Lounge on April 25 here in Tacoma! See more of their event dates and purchase their latest album at https://sweetmarilyn.art/

References:
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
Porchfest: https://tacomaporchfest.org/

Know Yourself, Know Community w/ Jade Monroe

Note: The last 10 minutes or so got completely messed up somehow, aaaaaand I cannot fix. I'm so sorry! I hope you enjoy it anyway :) 

In this delightfully imperfect and serendipitous episode, I'm joined by Alyssa Ryann (she/they), local Tacoma artist with a passion for making art more accessible to the general public. We met at a holiday artist market and I was immediately drawn to her apparently limitless styles. Today, we ended up talking about our shared philosophy that saying yes to yourself is the most self-loving thing you can do--including saying yes to making terrible art--as well as how important art is for survival, resistance, and revolution. Alyssa even made a t-shirt specifically from our conversation today which you can purchase through this link: https://alyssaryannart.etsy.com/listing/1856937802 using the code UGLYART for 20% off!

You can follow along Alyssa's journey on IG @alyssaryannart [https://www.instagram.com/alyssaryannart/]. They'll even host a paint and sip for you if you'd like!

Art Is Vital for Survival w/ Alyssa Ryann

In this episode, I chat with Meagan Mahaffy, founder of ArtGurl and fellow bad artist. We've both caught the ugly art bug, and yes, it is contagious because people like us have made it our mission to spread it as far and wide as possible. At different points in our lives, we both experienced the deep pit of despair of realizing that the life we chose wasn't the life we wanted, leaving us with a giant question of what on earth we were supposed to do now. Making ugly art allowed our intuition to grow louder each day, slowly unveiling our inner worlds and exposing the self beneath the masks. 

Together, we also discuss how art can be used as a wellness tool for self-expression, allowing us to take up space in the world and process the emotions and trauma that get buried beneath stagnation and comfort. While doing this work to get in touch with ourselves and heal can be painful (and just might ruin your marriage *ahem*), the end result is you getting to live more fully into who you really are and who you want to be. That's a pretty great tradeoff! 

You can learn more about Meagan's work on Instagram @ artgurl_ [https://www.instagram.com/artgurl__/]. She does in-person workshops in NY, has an online art club [https://artgurl.rexengine.com/auth/signin?callbackUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fartgurl.rexengine.com%2Fclubs%2Fartgurl], and is also running a virtual program called Art Gurl Academy [https://www.artgurl.org/pages/join] where participants learn to use art to transform their life.





Bad Art Fueling Intuition w/ Meagan Mahaffy

Join me and Andrea [on-dray-uh] Reeves (she/her), the neurodivergent mind behind Type C Creative, as we discuss the ways self-help isn't so helpful. How do we get out of that external feedback loop of trying to constantly improve ourselves and instead find a place of radical self-acceptance with our art and ourselves. We discuss finding systems and routines that work for you without attributing a story that you're failing or being a bad person as well as the beauty of embracing intentional inconsistency: accepting that you'll be inconsistent and de-shaming those habits that might be less than habitual.

You can find Andrea at typec-creative.com [https://www.typec-creative.com/] and sign up for her Substack, Rebellious Systems [https://typeccreative.substack.com/].

Rebelling Against Self-Help w/ Andrea Reeves

Today I'm joined by Kyra Sutherland (they/them), joy and confidence coach for autistic and ADHD folks, to discuss how neurodivergence impacts creativity and how practicing imperfection can help us expand how we view creativity and how we view ourselves.

As a kid, Kyra was a creative writer until puberty took hold and the comparison monster made creating too scary. As an adult, they have redefined creativity and how they express it through their business, gender expression, and relationships. You can learn more about them at joyfuldivergence.com [https://www.joyfuldivergence.com/] and follow them on social media! 

References:
"Multipotentialite [https://puttylike.com/terminology/]"
You Are an Artist [https://bookshop.org/p/books/you-are-an-artist-assignments-to-spark-creation-sarah-urist-green/12998476?ean=9780143134091]by Sarah Urist Green

Creativity & Neurodivergence w/ Kyra Sutherland

In this episode, I'm joined by Tacoma artist Jamie Fiano (she/her). Jamie and I discuss how creativity is more than putting color to a page; it's how we live and how we interact with each other. And in that interaction, we open ourselves up to new ways of being. Creation can be a path to freeing ourselves from old trains of thought that no longer serve us; it can give us a safe place to practice embracing the void and imagining new paradigms. As Jamie so beautifully puts it, "Creativity is the creation of space which is safe, secure, and sacred."

You can find Jamie at local Tacoma events through Cascade Music Alliance [https://www.instagram.com/cascademusicalliance/], Creative Colloquy [https://www.instagram.com/creativecolloquy/], and open mic nights  at Soulberry Coffeehouse [https://www.instagram.com/soulberrycoffeehouse/].

References:
Short story I couldn't remember the name of about "derivative art": Melancholy Elephants by Spider Robinson [https://www.spiderrobinson.com/melancholyelephants.html]
Dimension 20: Fantasy High [https://dimension20.fandom.com/wiki/Fantasy_High] "Palimpsest"
Definition of "palimpsest" [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palimpsest]

Shifting Paradigms w/ Jamie Fiano

In this episode, I talk with local Tacoma-area artist, Skye. Skye and I met the way most artists do...by overhearing the other talking about art and staring like a weirdo until it's too awkward to NOT introduce yourself and ask about their art...that's how it's done, right? Well, I'm glad I was weird because now I have this episode and a friend to show for it.

Sky shares about how these past few years motivated her to set aside distractions and start taking her art more seriously. We talk about how art can communicate our subconscious needs and desires, how scary it can be to put that final touch on something, and making art with zero expectations. In the end, making art is all about meeting ourselves in new ways and introducing ourselves to the world. 

You can find Skye's art on her Instagram @divine.reflections333 [https://www.instagram.com/divine.reflections333/] 

References:
Lauren Cutts [https://www.instagram.com/laurencutts.art/] Art

Meeting Yourself w/ Skye

Lore talks with creatives and industry professionals about the creative process and how to live more openly and fully through the willingness to make "ugly" things—including this podcast! Lore aims to let creatives know they're not alone and they deserve to explore all facets and forms of creativity, not just what is accepted as "good art." 

Lore (they/them) is an editor, creativity coach, and the founder of Scribe & Sunshine. You can find more about what they do at https://scribeandsunshine.com/ and if you want to support them, you can do so at https://ko-fi.com/scribesunshine.

Lore Alexander

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